Drab derby stained by Young's dismissal and a penalty gift from Keane

Liverpool 2 - 0 Everton

A second yellow in the first half ruined Everton's game plan, which finally crumbled with a Salah penalty gifted by Keane.  

Seamus Coleman, Andre Gomes and Dele Alli are all reported to be making good progress in their recoveries, they remain the only first-team squad members unavailable to Sean Dyche for this game, with Idrissa Gana Gueye available again after being forced out before the win over Bournemouth after sustaining a foot injury in the warm-up. 

But Dyche sticks with the team that won last time out, with Gana on the bench.

Storm Babet? Everton kicked off in bright sunshine and McNeil soon delivered a cross straight to the head of Everton's star centre-forward on a tremendous leap, and what did he do? Delivered it straight to Allison with all the goal at his mercy!

Docucore tracked Arnold back and tackled him superbly, but Liverpool were getting more of the play and Salah got in unmarked but completely fluffed his shot. Pickford then had to challenge Jota for a high ball.

A deep free-kick for a foul on Tarkowski was wasted, ending in Liverpool's first corner. It was cleared with all blue shirts defending, and just came back. But Everton got forward down the right and McNeil cleverly forced an Everton corner that turned into a rapid Liverpool counter, Diaz firing over thanks to a tremendous block by Young. The corner was headed clear. 

Harrison was double-teamed on the right and could not cross but the Blue shirts were playing up and challenging well enough for the ball. He got the next cross in but Calvert-Lewin was the wrong side of his defender. Allison fumbled the corner before clearing to Diaz and it needed brilliant work by Onana, outnumbered by swarming reds.  

Harrison was then triple teamed and Young took out Diaz for his customary early yellow card. Mykolenko stopped Salah dead in his tracks with a fine stop. Tsimikas fouled Young cynically but of course no yellow card, and the free-kick collected by Allison to launch another counter by Mykolenko again stopped Salah.

But Tarkowski was drawn into a soft foul on Jota as he advanced into the area, for a very dangerous free-kick in the Dee. But Arnold drove it into the Everton pack. However, Liverpool came back and won another corner that was cleared. Everton were getting forward but not reaching the Liverpool area before losing possession, leading to quick Liverpool attacks. 

More brilliant work on Salah was exhibited by Mykolenko as Onana tried to catch Allison and, in response, Salah lashed a cross-shot above Pickford's bar. 

Everton were trying to press but had become a little disheartened, Liverpool using the long ball down the flanks to bypass the midfield block. Dcalvert-Lewin got time on the ball but refused to pass it. Tarkowski challenged Arnold from behind and he saw yellow, while Jota steps on  Mykolenko's foot but again, no punishment.

Mac Allister tried to take advantage of the sun, firing long distance at Pickford. Doucore got time on the ball and he too failed to pass it before being surrounded. 

Diaz tried to get around Young but Young's tackle caught his ankle and off he went on a second yellow. The free-kick went for a corner, and that was cleared behind for another corner. Arnold tried a volley that flew just over the bar. 

At the other end, McNeil did very well to fashion space for a shot that was deflected just over but the corner was gathered by Allison and Liverpool's break had to be stalled. Arnold fired a sharp cross right through the Everton area, thankfully with no takers. 

Another Liverpool corner caused havoc, a handball claim denied by the VAR review as Everton had to withstand a lot of pressure from the side with the extra man. Calvert-Lewin headed on Pickford's goal-kick but Harrison could not keep hold, and Everton were again denied entry to the Liverpool area. 

Another Pickford boot almost fell for Calvert-Lewinn but he could not control it. Tarkowski looked to have blocked a Liverpool player for a possible penalty but that too was denied by the VAR and Everton survived the loss of a man without the loss of a goal in a reasonably well-defended first half while allowing many shooting chances to the Reds, without showing any bite up front to speak of.

Dyche went ultra-defensive in the second half with Patterson and Keane on in place of the two wide forwards, Harrison and McNeil, the second-half siege of the Everton penalty area commencing. 

Konate dragged down Onana as saw yellow. Everton got forward briefly until Konate felt an arm in his face. More Liverpool shots were blocked at the expense of a corner. The ball bobbled up and hit Keane's arm in the penalty area: no penalty. 

Onana did well to win another free-kick in the Liverpool half but Garner could not control his attempted shot. Onana blocked Diaz and got driven over the advertising boards behind the goal for his efforts. 

Everton got some respite forward but could not sustain the attack and were soon defending again. Beto replaced the largely ineffective Calvert-Lewin, while Klopp made a couple of changes after the hour-mark. 

Konate deliberately dragged back Docucoure on the break and should have seen a second yellow... but of course not, with Dyche getting a yellow card for his protestations. Nunez had a shot on target from outside the area, only Liverpool's second, that Pickford collected. 

But Liverpool were surging forward more strongly after the changes but Beto was getting involved and challenging in his own clumsy way. Tarkowski tried to clear in his direction.

Diaz tangled with Patterson in the area and Everton escaped another VAR check – quite rightly. Diaz then fired onto Keane's arm, sticking out in a very unnatural position. VAR gave it back to Paulson, who checked on the monitor, and of course gave the penalty to Liverpool.  

Salah v Pickford: Easy for Salah. No contest. Ian Woan yellow-carded as the Red Shite celebrated. 

Branthwaite headed a good Liverpool free-kick behind and, from the corner, Jota fired thankfully straight at Pickford. 

Everton finally got forward with 4 minutes left but were left stranded on the turnover, Branthwaite cleverly avoiding an own-goal with his header behind as Chermiti came on for Mykolenko.

Elliot hit a fierce shot that Pickford was equal to with a fine one-handed push onto the crossbar as 9 minutes of stoppage time were added. Everton looked for a late break but Doucouré's forward pass was never on. 

Jota dribbled in and shot into the side netting. Everton finally played the ball forward and won a late corner, but there was no-one on the end of it, Beto getting back well to tackle Salah. 

Everton rather rashly put almost everyone forward for a late corner at the end that was easily cleared and Liverpool surged forward for Salah to score a simple goal that was painful to see after such an effective defensive performance. 

Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate [Y:49'] (67' Matig), Diaz (81' Gomez), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Jota, Tsimikas (62' Nunez), Gravenberch (62' Elliot), Alexander-Arnold.

Subs not Used:  Kelleher, Endo, Scanlon, McConnell, Quansah.

Everton:   Pickford, Young [Y:18';YR:37'], Tarkowski [Y:32'], Branthwaite, Mykolenko (88' Chermiti), Onana (80' Danjuma), Garner, Doucoure, Harrison (46' Keane), McNeil (46' Patterson), Calvert-Lewin (61' Beto).

Subs not Used:  Virginia, Godfrey, Gana, Dobbin.

---

Reader Comments (239)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()

---

How to get rid of these ads and support TW